It was in my sights now.

Just tail-lengths away was I think the plumpest mouse that I had seen in this barn so far. And as far as I knew, it still hadn't noticed me from where I stood just behind a pile of hay, positioned in the new hunting crouch that Barley had shown me just earlier.

And all I could do for the moment was wait for the right time to pounce. "...Now?" I whispered as quietly as I could.

I could hear Barley take a light pawstep behind me, and I then felt his breath on my back as he leaned his head forward. "No... wait just a moment..." He then whispered in reply.

I gave a quick, light nod.

And then I proceeded to wait a moment. "Now?"

I could tell Barley was now trying to suppress a purr of amusement. "Not quite yet, Mist."

I took a slow, deep breath, gave a silent lash of my tail, and then tried to adjust my hunting crouch. My fur then began to tingle with anticipation as I watched the mouse start to sniff at a piece of hay in front of it.

I found myself having to hold back an anxious whimper. "...Now?"

"You tell us, Mist," I then heard my mother whisper from my other side. "You know how far forward you'll need to leap to get to it."

I slightly shifted in my place, giving another nervous lash of my tail. I'm honestly not sure if I do know... "O-okay..." I breathed despite my uncertainty.

I then heard another quiet set of pawsteps, and I let myself feel slightly comforted as my father's scent flooded through my nostrils. "You can do it, Mist," he meowed simply.

I can do it.

I took one last deep breath and readjusted myself once again, continuing to watch the mouse ahead of me. It's distracted, and I think that it's just far enough away to where I can land on or next to it... I tried to convince myself. I can do it.

Then, without letting myself think any more about it, I decided to leap forward, my back legs pushing off of the ground and bringing me to be airborne for just a heartbeat before I reached out my front paws in an attempt to swipe at the mouse.

And unfortunately for me, while I'd judged distance fairly well, my claws only brushed the creature's fur, and it quickly began to run away.

I could only stand for a moment, my ears flicking as I watched it flee. Shoot!

But I then didn't waste another moment chasing after it, determined not to fail. However, it was well ahead of me, and I had absolutely no way to stop it.

At least, I thought that I didn't.

The mouse was only tail-lengths from escaping through the same entrance my parents and I had used to get into the barn for the first time. But next to that entrance was a stack of hay that was just tall enough for me to quickly climb up to.

So, without even being able to take a moment to hesitate, I leaped onto the hay bale, used my claws as a grip as I climbed up, made it to the top, and then leaped off of the side to intercept the mouse. Yes!

And sure enough, I landed right on top of the creature, and was easily able to use my little claws to swipe at its neck. Take that, you slowpoke!

I then watched, slightly surprised as it then fell limp. Sorry, though...

That surprise and slight guilt only lasted a heartbeat as it then processed all over again that I had just made my first ever catch.

No way! I thought excitedly as I then looked back happily at the three older cats behind me. "I did it! I caught my first mouse! Wow, I..."

I then trailed off of my own words, quickly noticing that Sparrow wasn't standing with Chrissy or Barley, and instead was off to the side – his back to me, and his head lowered as he shook it slowly. "Um... father?" I purred, my head tilting to the side.

He didn't look at me. "Goodness almighty..." he sighed, his head still shaking.

I then looked to my mother, whose hazel eyes were narrowed but glittering with amusement. "Your father was a bit startled when you jumped onto the hay bale..."

I then had to suppress a mrrow of laughter as Sparrow then raised his tail, still not looking at either of us. "I just need a moment," he meowed a bit more sharply.

Chrissy simply stared back at him, her eyes still narrowed as she shook her head. "Hm, there's my strong, brave mate. Anyway..." Her gaze completely changed, her eyes glowing with excitement and happiness as she ran up to meet me. "Mist! I cannot believe you – amazing job!"

She then ran up to the hay bale, giving it a glance and brushing my flank with her tail. "That jump was perfect. Did your landing feel okay?"

I eagerly gave my mother a nod. It felt so natural – I didn't even have to think about it! "Oh, yeah!" I then meowed out loud, grabbing my mouse in my jaws and then walking with my mother over to Barley and my father. "Just fine!"

I then proceeded to drop the mouse in front of Barley, who had simply been watching my victory happily and proudly. "Thank you for the lesson, Barley!" I purred as I looked up at him.

Barley looked down at me with warm, cheerful eyes. "Aw, of course, young one. That was one fast mouse, and you thought on your paws... literally!" he meowed kindly before letting out an amused sniff. "I can't take credit for that jump though!"

I then let out a purr as my mother lifted her chin and gave a lash of her tail. "Oh, I'll take the credit, I suppose!" She then looked over her shoulder, at where my father was still standing with his back to us. "Maybe Sparrow will want to take some once he's calmed down."

I then continued to purr as my mother's eyes actually flashed with concern for just a moment, and she turned to face her mate. "Are you sure you're alright, honey?"

I then began to shake my head slowly, a smirk emerging on my face as I watched Sparrow take a deep breath, and then finally turn around. "Yes, I'm alright," he sighed, before flashing me a genuinely proud expression. "Great job, Mist. I just wish I'd had some time to prepare for that."

Chrissy then let out a snort. "You couldn't when Mist continuously took pauses and kept asking '...Now? ...Now? ...Now?'"

I then let out another mrrow of laughter as Sparrow interrupted my mother by brushing his fluffy tail all over her face. "Yes, thank you for the lesson, Barley," my father meowed in an overly enthusiastic tone. He then flashed my mother a teasing look before going on more calmly, "I think Mist got lessons from the most experienced mouse hunter in existence."

Barley looked down shyly for a moment, giving a shrug. "It really was nothing. Mist is a very quick learner!" he then meowed kindly.

He then shifted his blue gaze over to me, the mischievous gleam in them suddenly causing me to be overwhelmed with curiosity. "The next step is learning how to hunt in the forest, which I think your parents would be much better mentors for than me!"

I flicked my ears and let out a gasp. Hunting in the forest! I've only ever gotten to watch Sparrow and Chrissy do it!

I then shifted my gaze to look at my parents, trying with all of my might to try and catch their reaction to Barley's words. Do they think I'm old enough now? "Oh my goodness, mother and father, can you please teach me?" I began to beg as I trotted up to the two of them. "It shouldn't take long – I already know the hunter's crouch, how to leap, and I've caught something before!"

As I had predicted they would, my parents exchanged a nervous, contemplative glance between each other before replying to me. "That is true, and those skills are a great foundation to being able to learn to hunt in the forest, however," my father began, his dark gray gaze kind but firm, "Barley is right. It is definitely a whole different realm, and requires a bit more attentiveness and patience. Which..."

Sparrow then flashed my mother a humored glance. "...you clearly need a bit of work on, Mist."

"Which means that I should practice it..." I murmured, tilting my head forward towards my parents and cocking an eyebrow. "Which means that I should learn how to hunt in the forest!"

I then watched, holding back laughter as my father looked back at me, a smirk emerging on his face as his eyes narrowed. He then looked back at my mother. "Hm, she's got your wit, Chrissy."

Beside him, my mother let out a sigh and closed her eyes. "Oh, yes, she does," she breathed. She then opened her eyes, exchanging yet another uncertain glance with my father before looking down at me. "And I suppose that after such a successful first hunting lesson, we shouldn't stop now..."

I let out another gasp, and I suddenly felt as if my eyes were going to fall out of my head from how wide they were. "Really?"

Sparrow then flashed Chrissy yet another look, almost to receive confirmation from her, before giving me a definitive nod. "Really. Let's do it," he meowed, actually seeming to grow excited himself as he then began to pad towards our barn entrance. "We'd better go right now – the sun is already at its highest! We'll be back soon, Barley!"

I then jumped up in the air, and I could help but let out a squeal as I then burst forward, running ahead of the both of my parents and then making out onto the grass outside. I couldn't help but then simply jump around in it for a moment and feel its softness under my paws. As neat as the barn has been, I definitely prefer this soft ground as opposed to... what was it that Barley called it? Wood? Wood isn't nearly as comfy!

And after a few moments of simply frolicking, enjoying the sun, and waiting for my parents to join me, I abruptly froze and let out yet another gasp as something crossed my mind. Wait a moment, I just remembered that Barley had promised to tell me all about the wild cats if I caught a mouse, and I actually did! I thought, my mouth dropping open as annoyance at myself for forgetting sunk in. I totally meant to ask him about it immediately after! Should I go back in and remind him? I have to know what he was going to tell me about them! It must be important since he made the promise in the first place!

But just as I was about to take my first pawstep back towards the barn, my parents emerged one after the other through the barn entrance – both of them now looking more than ready to teach me. Ah... well...

I then looked up to the sky, and as my father had said, the sun was right smack in the middle of it, and it would begin to set before I knew it. If I want to learn how to hunt out here, I can't delay any time...

I then took a deep breath, the excitement at continuing my hunting lesson beginning to sink in as I kneaded my paws into the ground. Later.

I then tried to completely shake it off for now as my parents then began to lead me deeper into the forest. This was going to be my real test of patience. I'll get to hear all about it later.

~>~>~>~>~>~

Sparrow had sure been right – hunting out in the forest was an entirely different realm, and my patience had been tested like it never had before.

My parents had spent the entire afternoon teaching me the basic techniques of hunting in the forest – among trees, bushes, the grass, with rocks and sticks scattered all over the ground. Which all make things so, so much harder!

There was plenty of prey scattering around in the forest, however, having to not only focus on the prey itself, but literally every single step that I took and every movement that I made was so incredibly difficult. So difficult that I hadn't even managed to catch anything, to my disappointment.

I had been close so many times, but I either leapt too early, waited too long, or stepped on or brushed something as I moved. There are so, so many things to think about! I thought frustratedly as I followed Sparrow and Chrissy through the forest. Gee, I wonder if I'll ever manage it...

I then glanced first at my mother, and then my father as they each walked with one of their own catches in their mouths. Despite my mistakes, they had been nothing but encouraging, as always, and made sure that I knew that it just all took practice. It was just the first day of me learning, I tried to tell myself as I took a deep breath. This is yet another way that I'll have to learn to be patient...

I then couldn't help but then lick my lips as I looked more closely at the shrew and thrush that were in my parents' jaws. And you know what? Even though mother and father were the only ones to catch something, I think that I'm actually fine with that!

I excitedly quickened my pace, trying to ignore the rumbling of my stomach as the barn ahead slowly came into sight. But only moments after that, Chrissy came to an abrupt pause.

"Hm, I just realized that it's not even really necessary that we bring this prey to Barley's farm," my mother meowed through her full mouth. "He has all of the mice in the world in there!"

I then looked to my father as he let out an amused sniff. "True, however, maybe he should experience something other than all of the mice in the world..." he then replied. I then was surprised to see his dark gray eyes narrow as his gaze fell on Chrissy's catch. "This shrew is going to change his life! Unlike that thrush you're holding..."

I then let out a purr of amusement as my mother rolled her eyes. "Oh, please!" She then sharply shifted her gaze towards me, her hazel eyes narrowed. "Mist, which do you like better?"

I actually found myself taking a step back. "Um... I feel like it might be dangerous if I comment."

I then slowly raised my eyebrows as Chrissy didn't respond immediately, and simply looked deep in thought. "Fair enough," she eventually muttered after a few heartbeats. She then began walking once again. "I suppose we'll have Barley settle the debate."

"Speaking of Barley," my father then began, following after my mother, "are we staying in the barn with him again tonight?"

He then nodded up to the sky, where the sun was already fairly low in the sky, and beginning to hide behind the trees. "It's already getting pretty late, and we still have yet to eat our dinner..."

I let out a gasp, practically running up to get in between my parents and not even letting my mother ponder the question. "Which is exactly why we should stay another night!" I meowed confidently up to my father before then turning to look at Chrissy. "Please? The barn is so much fun!" And I'm also on a mission! I thought to myself, still having yet to hear Barley's answers to my big questions. But along with that, I have to admit, it's actually kind of nice knowing where exactly the place is that I'll be sleeping tonight...

I then let out a purr as Chrissy let out a sniff and ruffled my head with her tail. "Really? I wasn't getting that impression from you at all," she teased before giving a nod to Sparrow. "I'm fine with it as long as you are."

I then eagerly looked at Sparrow as he stopped just by our entrance to the barn. "Well, sure I am!" he meowed almost instantly, causing me to squeal and jump in the air in excitement. He then gave a lash of his tail, gesturing for me and my mother to go inside. "We have to settle the thrush and shrew debate, don't we?"

Yes!

I then practically ran inside the barn in excitement, so thrilled that things were going just a bit more in my favor after the failed forest-hunting attempt. "Hi, Barley!" I exclaimed to the black and white tom as my gaze fell on him. "We're back!"

Barley let out a purr of amusement, padding over to join us from where he'd settled in a nest of hay. "I can see that! Welcome back," he meowed kindly before flashing me an eager glance. "How did hunting in the forest go for you?"

At that question, I looked down shyly and immediately began to shift my paws back and forth. "Um... it was a little hard..." I murmured honestly. "I definitely need to practice some more."

I then looked up to see that Barley didn't even look the smallest bit disappointed, which honestly felt more uplifting than I ever could have thought. "Ah, that's alright! It was your first time. You're right – you just need a little practice," he meowed warmly. I then was surprised to see him give me a quick wink. "And hey, you still caught that mouse in here earlier, which means that I'll owe you a story later."

I felt my eyes immediately widen as I let out a quiet gasp. He remembers! Thank goodness, I thought excitedly.

I was almost tempted to press the older tom with questions about the wild cats right then and there, but I unfortunately couldn't let out another word as my parents approached from behind me, each dropping their catches in front of Barley. "Barley, we have a question for you," my father began, and I had to force myself from bursting out in laughter. "You're surely tried prey aside from mice, right?"

Barley flashed both Chrissy and Sparrow a humored look before answering. "Of course I have! Though it's been a while..." I then watched as he slowly lowered his gaze to look down at the two catches. "And I'm certainly not opposed to it..."

"Wonderful!" my mother then purred as she settled down onto the barn floor. "Then while we enjoy this prey, why don't you settle a debate for us?" She then slowly pushed her thrush towards the loner. "Though it's really not a debate, if you ask me..."

I then watched as Barley let out a chuckle and cocked a single eyebrow. "Hm, interesting. I'm up for it!" he purred, bringing me to let out a mrrow of laughter. "But I don't want to take over your catches before you all have even taken a bite. Aren't you hungry?"

Chrissy then narrowed her eyes, pushing her thrush even closer to Barley. "I'm hungry for victory," she nearly whispered.

"Good gosh," my father then sighed, giving a roll of his eyes. "They're also gifts of gratitude to you, Barley. Thank you so much for letting us stay here, really."

Barley then gave my father, who had let his tail settle on the tom's shoulder, a warm nod. "It really is no problem at all. I love to welcome any visitors, and you all have been wonderful to have here," he purred before looking back down at the two pieces of prey in front of him. "Something else I love to do is settle a debate between two clearly very passionate cats, so..."

I then watched, my eyes wide with anticipation as Barley then bent down to take a bite of the thrush. And then, surely on purpose, his gaze was unreadable as he then took a bite and began to chew on the catch. "Okay..." he then meowed through a full mouth. Then, once he had swallowed, he gave a sharp nod to my father. "Now give me the shrew."

Sparrow instantly complied, practically sliding his catch towards the barn cat. Moment of truth...

Barley then stopped the sliding creature with his paw, proceeding to bend down and then take a bite out of it. He took a longer time to eat this one, and I honestly wasn't sure what that meant. "Interesting..." he then muttered after a few heartbeats.

And by the time he actually swallowed it, I could practically sense the tension and anticipation that was spiraling between me and my parents as we watched him ponder. I couldn't help but prick my ears in excitement as the tom eventually gave another sharp nod. "Alright, I've figured it out!"

Chrissy let out a gasp, scooting a mouse-length closer to Barley, her eyes narrowed. "...And?"

I then had to suppress laughter once again as Barley flashed my mother a sympathetic look, resting the tip of his tail on her shoulder as he then spoke again. "I'm sorry, Chrissy..." he meowed regretfully. "I'm just not a fan of the feathers."

He then looked over to my father, his blue gaze now glowing with pride. "It's the shrew for me!"

"Ha!" my father exclaimed, looking victorious as he stood up and then looked sharply back at my mother. "Debate settled!"

Chrissy simply let out a contemptuous grunt, pulling the thrush away from Barley and towards her chest. "Hm, that's fine! More thrush for me and Mist then!" She then looked back at me, her hazel eyes briefly flashing with nerves. "That is, if she's willing to share it with me?"

I let out another purr as I ran up to my mother without hesitation, sympathetically pressing my flank against her shoulder – feeling slightly badly that she'd lost the shrew-thrush war. "Of course I will!"

Chrissy also let out a purr, giving me a gentle lick on the head. "Good," she meowed softly before looking back at Barley and Sparrow, who were already beginning to dig into the shrew. "I'm not even that offended – wren birds are actually my favorite. I actually like them so much that I'm not sure that I would eat one..."

Sparrow let put a snort after he'd swallowed a bite of shrew. "Oh, of course you say that now."

I let out a mrrow of laughter at my father's comment, then I eagerly ran up to my mother's thrush and took the biggest bite out of it that I could. And, of course, it was absolutely delicious, but at the same time...

I think I liked shrew just a little better.

But I was still perfectly satisfied being full of thrush when the moon finally rose, and it was time to go to sleep for the night.

But was I going to sleep any time soon? Absolutely not!

Unfortunately, during our meal and beyond, I'd never gotten a chance to ask Barley about the wild cats, and assuming that me and my parents were officially leaving the barn tomorrow, I can't waste another moment!

I tried my hardest to wait until my parents were fast asleep before I made any sort of attempt. And luckily, I think I tired them out with the hunting lessons today, thank goodness!

When I finally thought that the time was right, I slowly but surely tried to wriggle myself away from the nest that Chrissy, Sparrow, and I had settled in. Chrissy had had her tail wrapped around my little flank, but luckily the grip hadn't been strong at all, and I escaped without any issue at all. I then very quietly padded across the farm, the light from the moon leaking in from outside actually giving me a clear path to travel through.

And I already felt my fur beginning to tingle with anticipation and excitement as I then arrived at the... ladder that I had watched Barley climb up earlier to get to his usual sleeping place.

But I was nowhere near big enough or ready to make that climb, and instead climbed a stack of hay bales that luckily led all the way up to the second level of the barn. And I proved earlier today that I can easily climb these!

And once again, without a problem, I made it to my destination. Weird... I thought, giving my fur a shake in order to get rid of any hay sticking to it. I'm so focused on hearing what Barley has to say that I wasn't even thinking about how difficult that climb would usually be. Maybe not thinking too much is the key to doing things that scare me!

"Mist?"

I then nearly flinched as I heard Barley's hushed voice from the other side of the barn, and I followed his meow to see him beginning to sit up in his nest. "That's either you, or a very large mouse," he then purred, also giving a shake of his own fur.

I let out a quiet purr of amusement as I then ran up to meet him. "Not a very large mouse, it's Mist!" I whispered again. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

Barley shook his head quickly, his eyes flashing with reassurance as he gave a dismissive lash of his tail. "Not at all. I was awake anyhow, and it's a good thing too," he meowed, lightly nudging my shoulder with his tail. "I had a hunch that you might try to catch me up here."

I raised my eyebrows and widened my eyes. "Really? You did?"

Barley then let out another purr. "With how eager you are to hear about these wild cats that I know? Of course!" I then began to knead my paws in excitement as he brushed past me, walking across the barn and pausing just under a fairly big hole in the barn's top. "Come on – I know the perfect place that we can settle."

Without any hesitation, I began to follow Barley to that very spot. But only after a moment, I stopped abruptly in surprise as the tom made a swift leap up and out of the hole. I then let out a purr of amusement as he then poked his head out from the top. "Don't worry, I won't make you jump like that – just stand below me, and I'll hoist you up!"

I eagerly gave the barn cat a nod before complying. "Cool!" I squealed quietly as I then felt Barley's jaws grab my flank and gently bring me up through the barn roof.

And immediately once the top of the barn came into view and Barley set me down, my mouth dropped as I began to process everything around me, which was... everything. "Wow..." I breathed as I became overwhelmed with how much I could see.

Just in front of me, beyond the plains and a river that stood on the other side of the barn, the forest that I was familiar with stretched farther than I ever imagined that it could, and just barely out of my sight, I could see a Twolegplace far off into the distance. To my left was a very ominous-looking area full of tall stones, which eventually turned into marshy plains. To my right, beyond more plains and forest, I could see what looked to be an even larger Twolegplace, with buildings taller than any tree I'd ever seen. Wow... just wow.

As I stood there in awe, I barely noticed when Barley walked up to stand beside me. "Amazing, isn't it? I figured that this view would serve as a guide for what I'm going to share with you about these wild cats."

I then felt my eyes widen with amazement even more as I looked up at the older tom. "Really?" I breathed, my fur not only tingling with excitement anymore, but the light breeze that blew it. "How so?"

Before answering, Barley let out a stretch and then settled down on the barn roof. "Well, let me tell you," he meowed as he then gestured for me to also make my spot. "Believe it or not, these wild cats are spread out throughout almost all of this."

My eyes widened even more at that statement. "No way..."

Barley briefly looked back at me from where he'd also been enjoying the view. "Way, way!" he purred. "Unlike you and your parents, these wild cats come together in large groups, and these groups each choose a place that they want to live and adjust to that way of living. They choose a leader to guide their group. They also hunt their own food, but they defend the place that they live in whatever way that they can, and they don't let any other group get in their territory!"

He then gestured with his tail for me to look towards the marshy area to my left. "While no groups of cats live around those stones over there, over by those marshes are where one group of cats settles. I don't know too much about them, but their paws are accustomed to walking on muddy ground, and they love to eat frogs and reptiles."

I couldn't help but wrinkle my nose at that. "They eat them... willingly?"

Barley sniffed and shrugged beside me. "I'm stumped on that one too," he muttered before then gesturing to the plains just in front of the barn. "There in those fields and hills are where the very long-limbed, fast-running cats settle," Barley went on. "They don't need any shade or cover to settle; they sleep out in the open, no problem. You and your parents have done that before, haven't you?"

I nodded eagerly back at Barley. "Yes, we have! It feels so strange though..." I then murmured. "I almost feel like I'm being watched constantly!"

Barley let out a small chuckle. "I can understand that!" he meowed, then nodding over to the river that stretched in between the plains and the forest. "Over there is where I've been told that 'water-cats' live. They actually swim in that river all of the time, hunt fish for their food, and decorate their dens with seashells." I then felt a shiver run down my spine as Barley then gestured with his tail towards the forest beyond that. "And just next to that river, as you can probably tell, is where the forest cats live. They live among the trees, and hunt things like birds or squirrels for their food."

"Oh, yeah?" I murmured as I struggled to take my eyes off of the forest. "That's so neat..." That's definitely the kind of place that I've liked the most out of all the places me and my parents have been...

Barley slowly nodded at me, his eyes narrowed but full of amusement as he quickly realized that these forest cats had piqued my interest the most. "It most certainly is," he purred, giving me another light nudge. "They surely also climb those countless amount of trees that they have as well!"

I couldn't help but gasp again. Climbing... and trees!

He then looked back at the forest, his gaze actually filling up with gratitude. "I actually am somewhat acquainted with the forest cats, and have gotten to know their leader," he then revealed, causing my mouth to drop all over again. "They definitely seem to be the more kind and welcoming group of forest cats, I have to admit."

"No way..." I breathed all over again, finally trying to process everything that Barley had shared with me – which was all more than I ever could have hoped for him to share with me. They seem so different, and yet so much alike to how my family and I live our lives. I wonder if we'll ever cross paths with them in our travels?

I then took a deep breath, taking one last look at everything before nodding up at Barley. Either way, I'm so amazed at all of this... these wild cats sound like something else, and I can't believe that Barley knows them! "Thank you so, so much for sharing all of this with me, Barley!" I meowed enthusiastically to the farm cat. "I seriously so enjoyed all of that!"

I then flicked my ears, peering past the tom as I realized that he had actually missed apart of this huge view of ours. Before he could even answer to my thanks, I lashed my tail in the direction of the large, looming buildings that stood far over to our right. "Oh, what about that Twolegplace over there? Do cats live there?"

To my surprise, Barley's blue eyes briefly seemed to flash with alarm at my question, and his black and white fur raised just a little. "O-over there? Where all of the big buildings are?"

I simply gave Barley slow nod, my curiosity now peaking like it never had before.

But Barley continued to shock me by screwing his eyes shut, as if he were uncomfortable. "Yes, yes, cats do live over there, but..." he began, seemingly to try and select his words carefully. "But believe me, they... they're quite different from the wild cats that live out in the plains and the forest. They can be ruthless, and dangerous... so, definitely tell your parents to steer clear." He then seemed to shift uncomfortably once again. "At least, that's what I've heard, I mean. Trust me – stay away from them, Mist."

I then simply gave him another nod, watching as he then stood up and shook out his fur once again. "But anyway," he then went on, his voice now back to his typically, warm, kind tone, "I'm sure that after all of this information, it's tired you all out, huh?"

Although I didn't want to admit it, I found my jaws opening up into a huge yawn almost on cue. "Honestly... yeah!" I meowed through my yawn. "I am a little tired!"

Barley let out another chuckle, nodding before leading me back to the hole that we had come out of. "I thought so – you'd better go and get some sleep then. You need to make sure that you're well-rested just in case you get another hunting lesson tomorrow."

I gave Barley yet another nod. "Of course!" I tried to meow more enthusiastically despite my concern at Barley's quick change of subject. And as I followed him towards our entrance, everything that he had shared with me continued to swirl around in my head. And this while likely still keep me from sleeping even if I'm in my nest!

After taking one last glance at the plains, marshes, and the river, I let my gaze rest on the forest for a moment. Hm, curiosier...

I then briefly shifted my gaze over to the large, looming Twolegplace. And curioser... I thought just before Barley grabbed me in his jaws once again, gently beginning to lower me down into the hole.